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State Representative John Persell
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5516
For more information contact: Jessica Nyman 651-296-8877
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Rep. Persell: GOP Tax Bill Asks Middle Class Minnesotans to Pay More
St. Paul, MN – On a party line vote, Republicans in the House passed their Omnibus Tax bill, which would make dramatic cuts to the Renters’ Credit Program in order to provide tax relief for businesses and corporations like Wal-Mart.
Despite property tax increases for Minnesota’s homeowners and farmers due to last year’s elimination of the Market Value Homestead Credit, the GOP Omnibus Tax bill provides little to no relief for these Minnesotans. In fact, 99% of the property tax relief found in the bill is directed towards big business, with homeowners receiving just 1% of the relief. The bill includes no relief for farmers—the classification of property owners who faced the steepest rise in property taxes with Homestead Credit elimination.
Tax relief for corporations found in this bill is funded through a permanent annual cut to the Renters’ Credit of $70 million. As a result, the nearly 300,000 Minnesotans will see a reduction or elimination of this Renters’ Credit refund. Of these 300,000 Minnesotans, approximately 87,000 are seniors or disabled renters living on fixed incomes and struggling to make ends meet.
Regarding passage of the bill, State Representative John Persell (DFL – Bemidji) offered the following remarks:
“I am convinced that Republicans will never realize that attacking the middle class, instead of asking corporations to pay their fair share, will do nothing to improve our economy.
“Last year Republicans voted to eliminate the Market Value Homestead Credit, resulting in steep property tax increases for homeowners and farmers. Instead of providing relief for them, Republicans decided to help their corporate interests.
“Perhaps most concerning is the way Republicans are choosing to finance this tax break for corporations: asking 300,000 of our elders, college students, disabled, and those on fixed income to pay more. This is simply unacceptable."
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News Items
- Rep. Persell: We Must Come Together to Help Citizens, Businesses Affected by Disaster - (Posted: 2012-08-16 00:00:00)
- Rep. Persell: Today’s Hearing an Important First Step - (Posted: 2012-08-07 00:00:00)
- Rep. Persell: Omnibus Tax Bill Exemplifies Irresponsible Budgeting - (Posted: 2012-05-01 00:00:00)
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